Failure to Imitate
By Jon Barker, IMS Communications Director
2022.02
Date:
Original email campaign link:
Failure to Imitate
By Jon Barker, IMS Communications Director
We recently received an inquiry through the IMS website regarding a company promoting an MP3 solar device that looked identical to a MegaVoice device. IMS has a long standing relationship with MegaVoice, so I reached out to Darrel Templeton, Chief Partnership Officer with MegaVoice, to let him know about this company. What I learned from Darrel was alarming.
It is important to remember the vision of MegaVoice. “Over 25 years ago, the founders of MegaVoice, Tom Treseder and Ken Crowell, pioneered the development of the first solar powered, digital audio Bible. Their vision was to work in partnership with hundreds of ministries to engage billions of people who are unable to read the Bible for themselves” (MegaVoice.com). When I shared with Darrel about the MegaVoice imitation being promoted, he was very aware of this company and others trying to sell products that looked like MegaVoice. He shared that there have been mission organizations who lost thousands of dollars on inferior players that looked like a MegaVoice because the quality is not the same as a real MegaVoice and therefore lasted only six months or less before they failed. So what sets a real MegaVoice player apart from the imitation?
“Used in challenging environments all over the world, MegaVoice audio players are renowned for in-field durability. The same robust, hard-shell technology deployed in our players for decades remains standard” (MegaVoice.com).
Some key features of a genuine MegaVoice:
Each device is thoroughly checked
(InTouch Ministries ordered over 100,000, only three were rejected because of quality issues.)Shock resistant
Heat resistant up to 150° F / 66° C
Water resistant
One-year guarantee/warranty
Bottom line: The imitation products are hurting MegaVoice’s reputation. Darrel shared that a pastor in Mexico who experienced a fake MegaVoice asked him, “You used to make good stuff. What happened?” The challenge of “finishing the task of reaching all mankind with the message of God’s love is definitely daunting. However, with the ever-expanding use of MegaVoice solar powered audio Bibles, there is a growing sense of hope that the task can be accomplished as ministries around the world work together to finish the Great Commission” (MegaVoice.com). The imitation MegaVoice players are ultimately delaying the intended recipients from hearing God’s Word in the language they value most. Although this article focuses on MegaVoice, as Darrel shared with me, “It’s not about the vehicle, it’s about the message.” Let us be diligent investing God’s resources in equipment that will be durable and secure in communicating the truth to a lost world.
What products have you come across that were not reliable for distributing media? Continue the discussion in the IMS Forum. Jon joined Wycliffe USA in 2005 and began serving with SIL in 2008. He joined the IMS-Waxhaw team in 2015 and became the IMS Communications Director in 2020. Jon is married to his wife Angie, and they have two children, Austin (23) and Abbigale (20). You can contact him at ims_communications@sil.org.
Staff Corner — Jeremy Walton, 3D Animator
Jeremy was born in Dallas, Texas, and married his wife, Lisa, in 2003. January 25th was their 19th anniversary. He and Lisa have three boys and one girl. Their ages are 17, 15, 14, and 12.